Alert archive / West Virginia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Charleston, WV
NWS Charleston, WV issued this flash flood warning at May 24, 2026, 7:25 PM EDT for 5 counties in West Virginia. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 24, 2026, 7:25 PM EDT (23:25 UTC)
- Expired
- May 24, 2026, 11:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 4 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, WV
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Boone County, WV, Fayette County, WV, Kanawha County, WV, Nicholas County, WV, Raleigh County, WV
The radar
The Charleston,WV radar (KRLX), 33 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:29 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 110 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 198 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 462 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 141 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 164 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
215
WGUS51 KRLX 242325
FFWRLX
WVC005-019-039-067-081-250330-
/O.NEW.KRLX.FF.W.0013.260524T2325Z-260525T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Charleston WV
725 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Boone County in central West Virginia...
Southeastern Kanawha County in central West Virginia...
Northwestern Fayette County in southeastern West Virginia...
West Central Nicholas County in southeastern West Virginia...
Northwestern Raleigh County in southeastern West Virginia...
* Until 1130 PM EDT.
* At 725 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2.5 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Montgomery, Chesapeake, Belle, Cedar Grove, East Bank, Glasgow,
Smithers, Gauley Bridge, Pratt, Burnwell, Powellton, Whitesville,
Handley, Sylvester, Eskdale, Dawes, Leewood, Sharon, Dorothy and
Seth.
This includes West Virginia Turnpike between mile markers 63 and 88.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
&&
LAT...LON 3803 8179 3837 8138 3830 8124 3828 8123
3826 8123 3828 8120 3824 8113 3785 8145
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
111 follow-up statement
139
WGUS71 KRLX 250322
FFSRLX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
1122 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
WVC005-019-039-067-081-250332-
/O.EXP.KRLX.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260525T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Boone WV-Fayette WV-Kanawha WV-Nicholas WV-Raleigh WV-
1122 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1130 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHEASTERN BOONE, SOUTHEASTERN KANAWHA, NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE, WEST
CENTRAL NICHOLAS AND NORTHWESTERN RALEIGH COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for portions of
northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio, southwest Virginia, and West
Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3803 8179 3837 8138 3830 8124 3828 8123
3826 8123 3828 8120 3824 8113 3785 8145
$$
04What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Charleston, WV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 24, 3:35 PM EDT, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1) A waffling front in / near the area and mid-level waves will keep clouds, showers, and the chance for mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms, around through the balance of the Memorial Day weekend, as well as the first half of the upcoming work week. Rainfall could be locally heavy at times leading to flooding concerns, especially in areas that have recently received heavy rainfall. A Flood Watch for Flash Flooding has been issued for all but far northeast portions of the area through tonight to handle the current series of mid- level waves incoming.
- 2) The chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms shifts southward Thursday through Friday, only to then possibly return northward again next weekend.
- 3) Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the Memorial Day weekend and most of the upcoming short work week, before returning to near or slightly below normal on Friday into next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 3:35 PM EDT, 3 hours 50 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston WV
335 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
With low Flash Flood Guidance west and heating east, issued a
Flood Watch for Flash Flooding for all but far northeast
portions of the area through tonight.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) A waffling front in / near the area and mid-level waves
will keep clouds, showers, and the chance for mainly afternoon
and evening thunderstorms, around through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend, as well as the first half of the
upcoming work week. Rainfall could be locally heavy at times
leading to flooding concerns, especially in areas that have
recently received heavy rainfall. A Flood Watch for Flash
Flooding has been issued for all but far northeast portions of
the area through tonight to handle the current series of mid-
level waves incoming.
- 2) The chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening
thunderstorms shifts southward Thursday through Friday, only
to then possibly return northward again next weekend.
- 3) Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend and most of the upcoming short work week,
before returning to near or slightly below normal on Friday
into next weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...
Mid-level flat waves cross the area through tonight, ahead of a
mid/upper-level short wave trough axis, which crosses first
thing Monday morning. A weak surface boundary oozes into the
area from the west, sort of occluding a warm front over the
area, both boundaries oriented roughly north-south.
As for parameters integrated vertically through the column,
saturation through the column and limited daytime heating per
widespread cloud cover yield PW values in excess of 1.7 inches
and modest CAPE maximizing at around 500 to perhaps 1000 J/kg.
0-6/0-8 km bulk shear values range in the modest 30-40 kt range
with low level shear 20-30 kts can support stronger storms and,
at the very least, updrafts strong enough to leverage the high
moisture content into heavy downpours.
Rainfall has so far today been more closely tied to the mid-level
flat waves, but modest heating may also focus convective
initiation along the boundaries this afternoon and evening. The
Storm Prediction Center has the County Warning area in a general
thunderstorm outlook for today and tonight, while the Weather
Prediction Center has expanded their existing Slight Risk for
Excessive Rainfall over the middle Ohio Valley eastward into the
mountains, based on breaks in the cloud cover that have allowed
more heating there.
All in all, saturated ground and air, somewhat slow storm
motion, more than scattered precipitation coverage, and
increasing HREF/REFS probabilities of 3-hour Flash Flood
Guidance exceedance will contribute to the Flash Flood threat.
Flash Flood Guidance is lowest in the middle Ohio Valley,
particularly along and just west of the Ohio River, where 1 and
even 3 hour values are under an inch.
The short wave trough exiting Monday morning shifts the offshore
turns the mid/upper-level flow to the west to southwest, but
with the confluence zone between the northern and southern
streams over northern to central portions of the forecast area.
This allows another series of flat waves coming out of a
southern stream trough to move northeastward into the
confluence zone Monday, and then turn eastward through it
Monday night. With it and and lingering surface boundaries, the
potential for showers and mainly diurnally-driven thunderstorms
continues across mainly southern and central portions of the
area. All the rainfall will continue to need monitored for
possible excessive runoff through the end of the Holiday
weekend.
For Tuesday into Wednesday, the northern stream long wave trough
over eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. lifts
out, allowing the confluence zone to shift north. This allows
the moistere-laden air mass to shift northward, and what is
left of the southern stream short wave trough to traverse the
area. This, in turn, brings th heavy rainfall threat back
northward as well.
With relatively light flow associated with the southern stream,
the severe threat is low, and the Storm Prediction Center
carries a southward-shifting general thunderstorm outlook.
The Weather Prediction Center limits the Marginal Risk for Excessive
Rainfall to far southern portions of the area on Monday, before
shifting it northward again Tuesday through Wednesday.
KEY MESSAGE 2...
A northern stream short wave trough and then a northern stream
low amplify the east-coast long-wave trough again, in tandem
with long-wave ridging building northwest of the forecast area
late Wednesday through Friday. This drives a west to east
oriented surface cold front southward into, if not through, the
area Thursday into Friday, shunting the moisture-laden air
mass, and hence the chance for mainly diurnal showers and
thunderstorms southward and, by Friday, perhaps south of the
forecast area entirely.
There is uncertainty as to whether the northern stream lifts out
or stays in place next weekend. The current forecast brings the
chance for showers and mainly afternoon and evening
thunderstorms back northward into the forecast area.
KEY MESSAGE 3...
Temperatures hover above normal through the balance of the
Memorial Day weekend and into the upcoming short work week,
especially on lows, with highs somewhat muffled amid the active
weather pattern. Temperatures then trend at least back down to
normal at the end of the work week and into next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As showers become more widespread, ceilings lower to IFR and
visibility to IFR through this evening, already beginning in
portions of the middle Ohio Valley and in the mountains, and
then points in between. Thunderstorms are also possible through
this evening, but are not expected to be especially strong. IFR
conditions are likely under any thunderstorm.
In addition to IFR ceilings overnight, IFR visibility is
possible at times in heavier rain or fog. Monday will bring
improvement to VFR visibility, but only slow improvement on
ceilings, with IFR possibly improving to low MVFR by 18Z at
CKB, PKB and HTS.
Light south surface flow this afternoon will become light and
variable to calm tonight and Monday, amid multiple weak surface
boundaries in the area. Light to moderate southwest flow aloft
through tonight will become light northwest on Monday.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY...
FORECAST CONFIDENCE: Medium.
ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: CIGs and/or VSBY may oscillate from the
forecast depending on rainfall.
EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY
OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION:
H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS.
L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL.
UTC 1HRLY 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05
EDT 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01
CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H L H H H M M M
HTS CONSISTENCY H L H M H H H H H M M L
BKW CONSISTENCY M M M M M M M H H H H H
EKN CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H
PKB CONSISTENCY M M M H H H H H H M M M
CKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H
AFTER 18Z MONDAY...
IFR remains possible at times from Monday afternoon into at
least Wednesday, with mainly afternoon and evening showers
and/or thunderstorms, as well as overnight fog and/or low
stratus.
&&
.RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WV...Flood Watch through late tonight for WVZ005>011-013>020-
024>031-033-034-039-515>522.
OH...Flood Watch through late tonight for OHZ066-067-075-076-
083>087.
KY...Flood Watch through late tonight for KYZ101>103-105.
VA...Flood Watch through late tonight for VAZ003-004.
&&
DISCUSSION...TRM
AVIATION...TRMIn the hours before
Local storm report, May 24, 6:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
608 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0543 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 N Delbarton 37.73N 82.18W
05/24/2026 Mingo WV 911 Call Center
Tree down blocking both lanes of traffic on
Elk Creek Road.
&&Special weather statement, May 24, 6:13 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
613 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
WVZ025-026-242245-
Boone WV-Logan WV-
613 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL LOGAN AND SOUTH CENTRAL
BOONE COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM EDT...
At 613 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Amherstdale-Robinette, or near Logan, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Logan, Amherstdale-Robinette, Sharples, and Blair.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect. Heavy downpours could cause
rapid rises in water. If rising water is observed, move to higher
ground. Do not drive into areas covered by water.
&&
LAT...LON 3778 8191 3785 8199 3799 8174 3782 8164
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 254DEG 35KT 3785 8186
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
11Local storm report, May 24, 6:37 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
637 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0536 PM Flood 1 N Crooksville 39.78N 82.09W
05/24/2026 Perry OH Public
Flooding along SR 93 near Crooksville.
Verified through a social media post.
&&Special weather statement, May 24, 6:41 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
641 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
WVZ013-015-025-026-515-242315-
Northwest Raleigh WV-Boone WV-Kanawha WV-Lincoln WV-Logan WV-
641 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN KANAWHA...EAST
CENTRAL LINCOLN...NORTHWESTERN RALEIGH...NORTH CENTRAL LOGAN AND
BOONE COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM EDT...
At 641 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Van, or 7 miles southeast of Madison, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Madison, Chesapeake, Marmet, Belle, Cedar Grove, East Bank, Glasgow,
Van, Bald Knob, Wharton, Julian, Danville, Whitesville, Sylvester,
Seth, Dawes, Prenter, Ashford, Sharon, and Stickney.
This includes the following highways...
West Virginia Turnpike between mile markers 77 and 88.
Route 119 between mile markers 49 and 63.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3788 8149 3784 8184 3821 8190 3825 8141
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 162DEG 19KT 3800 8168
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
11Local storm report, May 24, 6:56 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston WV
656 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0547 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Williamson 37.68N 82.25W
05/24/2026 Mingo WV 911 Call Center
Large tree down.
&&Special weather statement, May 24, 6:57 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston WV
657 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
WVZ015-027-517-519-242330-
Clay WV-Kanawha WV-Northwest Nicholas WV-Northwest Fayette WV-
657 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL NICHOLAS...EAST
CENTRAL KANAWHA...SOUTHWESTERN CLAY AND NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES
THROUGH 730 PM EDT...
At 657 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Smithers, or 16 miles southwest of Clay, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Smithers, Glen, Bentree, Indore, Pond Gap, and Bickmore.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3823 8138 3847 8123 3834 8095 3816 8127
TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 211DEG 28KT 3827 8127
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
11The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, WV issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 12:52 PM EDT | Flood Watch | RLX | Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge and 24 more | 13 hr |
| May 24, 5:23 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Mingo | 37 min |
| May 24, 5:27 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Logan, Mingo | 48 min |
| May 24, 5:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | RLX | Logan | 27 min |
| May 24, 5:58 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Logan, Mingo | 3 hr |
| May 24, 6:11 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Cabell, Mason | 3 hr |
| May 24, 6:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Logan | 32 min |
| May 24, 6:28 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | RLX | Boone, Logan, Raleigh | 6 hr |
| May 24, 6:41 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Boone | 34 min |
| May 24, 6:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Clay | 33 min |
| May 24, 7:34 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | RLX | Raleigh | 26 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in West Virginia, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.